5 Dead, Nearly 200 Sickened In Romaine Lettuce Outbreak

This undated photo shows romaine lettuce in Houston. On Friday, June 1, 2018, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said four more deaths have been linked to a national romaine lettuce food poisoning outbreak, bringing the total to 5. (Steve Campbell/Houston Chronicle via AP)

By MIKE STOBBE, AP Medical Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — Four more deaths have been linked to a national food poisoning outbreak blamed on tainted Arizona-grown romaine lettuce, bringing the total to five.

The Arizona growing season is long over and it’s unlikely any tainted lettuce is still in stores or people’s homes. But there can be a lag in reporting, and reports of illnesses have continued to come in.

In an update Friday, health officials said 25 more cases raised the total to 197 illnesses in 35 states. At least 89 were hospitalized.

Previously one death had been reported, in California. On Friday, health officials said they have learned of four more — another in California as well as one each in Arkansas, Minnesota and New York.